A criminal probe of Boeing Co's dealings with the US Air Force is widening to include a $100 billion Army program it oversees, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The newspaper, citing people familiar with the matter, said the investigation is preliminary and prosecutors have not yet alleged any improprieties.
But the Journal said the new inquiry is connected to Michael Sears, Boeing's former chief financial officer and a central figure in a scandal involving Boeing's hiring of a former senior procurement official with the Air Force.
The official, Darleen Druyun, pleaded guilty to the improper awarding to Boeing of a number of procurement contracts.
Sears is expected to plead guilty next week to a felony count for helping to hire Druyun, sources familiar with the case told Reuters last month.
A representative from Boeing was not immediately available to comment.